Ann Leary speaks at the WOW! Professional Development Conference at the Warner Theater in Torrington.Laurie Gaboardi - Register Citizen

TORRINGTON >> More than 200 women attended the ninth annual WOW! Women’s Professional Development Conference at the Warner Theatre on Friday to listen to women eager to share their experiences from various career fields.

The audience heard from five female speakers offering career and motivational advice inside the Warner Theatre’s Carole and Ray Neag Performance Arts Center.

“We are having a phenomenal day,” JoAnn Ryan, president and CEO of Northwest Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce, said during the conference. “All I can say is wow!”

Ryan is the main organizer and creator of the conference. The event started at 7:45 a.m., with registration, and continued until 3:15 p.m. with a networking reception.

Ryan served as the event’s master of ceremonies after the previously booked MC was unable to attend.

“It’s so inspiring and motivating for all of us,” Ryan said. “We want women to think positively about themselves.”

The speakers for this year’s event include Suzy Kline, an award-winning author and former teacher in Torrington; Ann Leary, author of the bestseller “The Good House,”; well-known artist Danielle Mailer; Mary Kay national sales director emeritus Jan Mazziotti; and Susanna Salk, an interior designer, author and frequent guest on the “Today Show.”

Women from several career backgrounds were present on Friday, with ages varying from college-aged women seeking career advice to mid-career women seeking a spark of inspiration. The event was open to women and men.

Tammy Kroll, of New Hartford, is a first-time visitor of the conference. She is a skin care consultant and a Zumba instructor and said Salk’s presentation motivated her to start a blog.

Leary spoke about her experiences working as an author and how she draws inspiration from everyday life. She discussed how some of the characters and settings were created for her latest book, “The Good House,” and touched on how she worked up the confidence to write a book.

“I always thought I could write a book, but I didn’t have the nerve to do it,” Leary said to the audience.

She said her latest book is being turned into the movie with Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro slated to play the titular characters.

Leary said she was thrilled to be at the conference, which she had been invited to attend before but was unable to attend in the past.

“I was really excited that women showed up on a weekday in Torrington,” Leary said. “I was glad to be here.”

Valerie Royals, a professor of business and management administration at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, said she attends every year and encourages her students to attend as well.

“I find it always interesting and inspiring,” Royals said.

A limited number of scholarships to pay for the conference fee were available and Royals said one of her students, Rhea Drozdenko, was a recipient. “I have actually been to other women’s conferences before,” Drozdenko, a freshman at NCCC from Torrington, said. “I thought it would be a good experience, a good way to meet new people.”

Donna Gentile, an artist, musician and designer who said she tells stories through art and music, said she was excited to hear from all five women.

“I just wanted to be in a room full of women to be inspired by their stories,” Gentile said.

A silent auction and raffle, along with a book signing table, also welcomed conference attendees on Friday. Sponsors of the event include Barron Financial Group, Connecticut Light & Power, Hemlock Directional Boring, Northeast Utilities Companies, the Warner Theatre and Yankee Gas.